A Taliban ban on smartphones for civil servants has raised fresh concerns over access to information in Afghanistan, with rights groups warning it could further isolate government employees and tighten the authorities' control over public life.
According to a military court order seen by Reuters, the ban came into force on 16 June and applies to "all officials of the military and civilian institutions, including judges".
Anyone found using a smartphone risks having the device confiscated and destroyed, while further punishment could follow under Afghan law.
The Taliban administration has not commented publicly on the order. For many government employees, however, the impact has been immediate.
One civil servant said much of the public sector had relied on smartphones for day-to-day work.
"The impact has been so significant that many administrative processes have effectively come to a halt, because most official work was previously carried out through mobile phones, WhatsApp, and email," the employee said.
Authorities in Panjshir province have already confirmed that the ban is being enforced across government offices.
Rights groups say the move is about more than workplace rules.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have steadily tightened restrictions on daily life. Women and girls have faced some of the harshest measures, including bans on secondary and university education and restrictions on employment.
Journalists, activists and civil society groups have also reported growing censorship and intimidation.
Against that backdrop, campaigners say smartphones have become one of the few remaining ways for Afghans to access independent information, communicate privately and document alleged abuses.
"Today, a smartphone is no longer just a source of entertainment," said Sanam Kabiri, an Afghan women's rights activist based in Australia.
"When its use is prohibited in government offices, it raises concerns that the objective may extend beyond maintaining administrative order to also restricting access to information and communication."
growing concerns over information controls
Critics say the latest order fits a broader pattern of restrictions imposed since the Taliban returned to power.
While the Taliban have previously presented technology restrictions as administrative or security measures, campaigners argue the smartphone ban reflects a wider effort to limit access to information and strengthen state control over public life.
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